AUTONOMA delivered a Vial Handling Module to NSW Health Pathology, providing end-to-end automation for the preparation, analysis, and secure archiving of clinical samples.

The system is engineered to fully automate the tedious and repetitive tasks of decapping, transferring, and recapping vials, test tubes, and flasks (blood, urine, nasal swabs, oral fluid, and more). By transforming the laboratory workflow, it frees skilled technicians from monotonous handling, speeds up processing, and significantly reduces the risk of Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI).

The Challenge

• High-volume manual decapping, transferring, and recapping of vials

• Risk of human error and cross-contamination

• Safety concerns for technicians handling potentially hazardous samples

• Need for full traceability through integration with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

• Demand for a scalable, modular automation solution

AUTONOMA Solution

Precision Decapping and LIMS Integration

• Trays of capped samples are loaded into the system by a technician.

• Each vial is robotically picked and its barcode scanned against the LIMS worklist.

• Non-matching IDs are returned and flagged for manual intervention.

• Valid vials are security tape-cut, uncapped, and transferred into Tecan racks for analysis.

• The used caps are safely disposed of, ensuring a sterile workflow.

Secure Recapping and Automated Archiving

• Following analysis, Tecan racks are reloaded into the system.

• Each vial is recapped with a fresh lid via an integrated cap feeder and sorter.

• Recapped vials are placed into numbered archive racks.

• AVANTICA software records sample ID and exact storage position, creating a digital chain of custody fully searchable through LIMS.

Enhancing Safety and Throughput

• Eliminates manual, repetitive strain-inducing tasks.

• Protects technicians from unnecessary exposure to biohazardous materials.

• Increases throughput and consistency across the pathology workflow.

• Establishes a scalable, modular foundation for future laboratory automation.

Benefits & Outcomes

• Increased efficiency – Faster, more consistent sample preparation and archiving

• Safety – Reduced risk of RSI and biohazard exposure for lab staff

• Traceability – Digital record of every sample’s journey through AVANTICA + LIMS

• Error reduction – Automated barcode validation prevents mismatches

• Scalability – Modular system supports future automation needs